Getting That First Phone Call
You won’t be able to secure a deal unless you get that first phone call and first deal. After you’ve done some advertising (flyers, ads, etc.) and made some connections with foreclosure and real estate agents, all you need to do is prepare to take on your first seller as he or she calls you.
One thing you have to remember first is that you may not get a call right away. When this happens, do not panic. There are homeowners who opt to hold on to your number until they are ready to call you themselves.
When the first phone call comes and your phone rings, do not panic, too. Be calm and composed. Act like you’ve done this a couple of times before.
Here are some tips to bag that deal when the seller calls:
- Your greeting should not go like you are promoting your company. For instance, do not go answering your calls with “Good morning. Thank you for calling Real Estate Company.” Homeowners feel more comfortable sharing their home troubles with individuals, not companies. The proper greeting should go like “Good morning. Real Estate, this is Name speaking.” Your greeting should be more on a personal level to get the sellers to be comfortable with you.
- Get right on the point of how you can help the seller. He or she called for your help, after all.
- There are some homeowners who would want to ask you for information first before going unto the problem. Be patient with them and be courteous. These homeowners may feel upset about having to sell their property and may also not like to trust you. Concentrate on building trust between the two of you and there is a possibility that he or she may warm up to you about their real estate problem.
- Take down some personal information about the homeowners. You will be able to see whether or not the homeowner will face a possible foreclosure or not. They may also share that they are behind bills and loans. You might be able to help them in a different way with these information. For instance, you might be able to help the sellers better by offering to work with their lenders and avoid foreclosures.
- Ask if you could take a look at their property on the same day they called. This will show the homeowners your dedication and sincerity in helping them. Negotiations and talks may also go more smoothly when you are talking face to face and not over the phone. There is also the danger of losing the seller to other investors if you postpone looking at the property on another day and the homeowners are in need of immediate action.
It all goes down to getting that first phone call right. When you have successfully communicated to the homeowners and they warmed up to you, then that real estate deal is yours.
